2011 Running Thread

groovygirls

Woo hoo- back from the full! 39.3 miles in two days. My time was horrible but I had such a great time. Who would have thought I would have done this 4 months after bilateral mastectomy. Race report to follow....



Pixie dust for orange mat!

goldlining

Who cares about the time? -- they have enough medals for everyone! :-)

So proud of the Goofy achievement. I'm not sure if I am up to 26.2, but some day I would like to try the Chip & Dale relay, especially the second half.

Looking forward to all the reports! 

orangemat

Woohoo groovygirls!! Way to go! So sorry we didn't get to meet up though; when are you leaving? Our flight is tomorrow late afternoon, so now I can finally start to enjoy the parks, hobbling a bit, but still.



As for me, well here's a quick recap: Finished the Disney Marathon yesterday in 4:42:03, a full 20 minutes slower than I had planned for. I was on pace for the first 7 miles, but then got hit with tummy issues that forced me to make two extended potty stops along the way... oh well, as they say, sh*t happens... but in spite of all my unforeseen issues, I kept running, maintained my positivity and finished with a smile.

CLC

YEAH, orangemat!!!!  Hope you are enjoying the parks today!

A_FIGHTER

Hi Groovygirls,

Congratulations!! 

I read on your previous post (Jan. 7) you weren't supposed to be running yet. Did they give a time frame as to when you could? How long after surgery did you start running?

This Wed. will be two weeks since my surgery (bmx - subcutaneous).  

goldlining

I'm interested in what groovygirls says too. I see my PS for post-DIEP follow-up and will ask him about running. His instructions are physical activity as tolerated except for abs. He knows I am doing a half in 3 weeks. I am okay with doing as a brisk walk. I just want the medal :-)  I started treadmill walking at about 10 days post-op and am now 3 weeks. I was on the treadmill yesterday and mulling trying a trot but in the end I decided I did not want to push it yet. I hope that over the next 3 weeks, I can get up a little bit of a run. I am walking at 9:30/km (15:00/mile).

With my uni mx in 2010, I never had any direction from the BS one way or the other about running. I started 5 weeks after surgery with 2.5 minutes at the end of a 60 minute walk, and gradually worked up to running alternate 2.5 minutes, then 5 minute intervals etc. I completed a half at 10 weeks, and ran probably the first 7 miles before switching to mostly walking with intervals of trotting. I was off maybe a minute per mile from my personal best and felt great after. I think our bodies are a good guide.

The most problematic thing for me is bounce factor. For that, the bmx has a big back-to-running advantage over lumpectomy or reconstruction.

thriceblessed

Congratulations, all you Disney girls!  What an accomplishment.  You all inspire me!

ymac16

I am new to this site and thread but am very intersted in following this now!  I ran my first marathon last October (Marine Corp Marathon in DC).  2 weeks after that I had a bilateral MX.  The cancer had spread to 2 lymph nodes so they didn't do reconstruction and now I have tissue expanders in place.  I really want to start running again and I've been given the go ahead to do so.  HOWEVER, I just ran across the street the other day and I could feel the saline solution sloshing around in the expanders - very weird feeling!!!  I had a sports bra on, but not a very supportive one - I am/was(??) small chested so never needed much support.  I am now looking for a super supportive sports bra so I can run with no bouncing/sloshing.  Any recommendations?

goldlining

Welcome ymac16! Some of the ladies here have implants I think. Hope you get some input.

groovygirls

ymac16- I have had the worst time finding a sports bra that works for me. I wear one from lululemon and a size smaller than I normally wear compression top. At first I wore the compression top with the sports bra over because of the seams. I often had to hold the implants when I ran because they just did not feel comfortable. I scared the physician who lives up the street when he saw me running down the road clutching my chest!

 After I had the surgery done I went to my local running store and bought one of every sports bra they had- went home and tried them all out. I found one I liked but the lululemon one is my favorite! Returned most.

firstcall

Greetings everyone.  I'm a male with breast cancer, diagnosed three weeks ago.  I had a mastectomy on Dec 29, with Sentinal nodes, and had a node disection on Jan14 (because one of my nodes was positive).  So...two surgeries in two weeks.  I love to run.  I'm not fast, but steady.  I ran two marathons in the three weeks before my diagnosis.  I would be very interested to know how you have done with running and treatment.  I don't know yet what my chemo/radiation program will be as I am waiting for results, but I would be very interested to know how running has gone for you, esp with treatment.  Is it possible to run a marathon while on chemo? 

lewing

I've been away from BCO for awhile . . . no problems, just busy with work and family stuff . . . but I've been thinking about all of you, especially the Disney runners.  How fun to come here and read your reports!  Way to go, Groovygirls and Orangemat . . . you're amazing.

Adrian, a number of us (I'm one) ran shortly after surgery and through treatment (chemo only, no radiation, in my case).  I slowed down a lot as chemo dragged on, but sticking with something resembling a running routine was hugely important to me psychologically.  I think it also helped mitigate some of the SEs, especially the body aches and (counterintuitively) fatigue.  Running a marathon?  That would be tough, I think, but everyone is different -- for instance I could never imagine running two marathons in three weeks!  As long as you don't have your heart set on a particular time, it might be doable.  You'll need to take extra care to stay well-hydrated, and you'll also need to listen to your body. 

P.S. It's a new year, so perhaps one of the more active posters could start a new thread?  I would, but given my spotty posting history of late, I think a change of thread leader might be in order.

L

kks_rd

Welcome Adrian!  I was in the first six months of my running career when I was diagnosed.  I was able to run during treatment, but sporadically, and my pace was slower.  However, I was able to improve my endurance all around while training in treatment (of course, it wasn't great to begin with, so it wouldn't take much to improve ) - maintained 5K level during chemo, went from roughly 5K level to 10K level after chemo and before two surgeries, and maintained that level after surgery.  Since starting radiation I am probably back to 5K level, although the craziness of work and the holidays contributed to that a little too.  My pace stinks but I don't care, I'm in it for the endorphins and to stave off the 10-15 lbs weight gain women in BC treatment tend to gain (so far, successful with that too). 

Good luck all around! 

bludaizy

Hi - Glad to find this thread. I was training for my first half marathon when I was diagnosed. I was supposed to run First Light in Mobile Jan 8. Instead I ran a local half on Dec 10. Surgery was this past Wed (Jan 11). Hope this thread will help get me motivated to start running again once I am cleared to do so. For now I am exhausted just walking down the street and back. But, I know my day will come when I can put some miles in again.

groovygirls

Welcome Adrian.

The only advise I can give is to listen to your body. I had my BMX in September with immediate reconstruction with silicone implants and the weather was beautiful. I could not stand to be inside and went for daily long walks which greatly helped my mental health. I found a good compression top to be key- still had post surgery swelling. I also took spin class a few times a week which helped keep my cardio up. I didn't feel my implants as much with the spin class.

Very grateful (in a sense) that I am not a candidate for chemo- not sure I could have resumed exercise as quick as I did. Then again- everyone is different

goldlining

[edited for font] 

Welcome Adrian -- no chemo or rads for me, but back on the treadmill as soon as I could, for the same reasons: endorphins are good for the pain and the peace. I am not good at running but it is good to me. I had a decrease in my pace after my first mx that I thought must be leftover effects from anaesthesia: my heart rate would be way too high to go any faster, and I couldn't get my previous pace back. I am still just walking at 15 mins/mile pace 4 weeks post op (DIEP reconstruction) but so far my heart rate has been pretty good. I wonder if the heart rate before was actually stress (being in the holding pattern and frustrated waiting for the second mx). Not sure if I will try any running before the Tinker Bell Half at Disneyland Jan 29. (We love our runDisney on this thread!) My only goal is upright and smiling 6 weeks after having a big wedge of my belly cut out and relocated. If I can trot any of it, that would be a bonus.

Does anyone want to start a 2012 Running thread? Lewing has a good point. I don't feel like the running leader though. 

klynnz

I would like to join this thread/group. Ive never been a real runner, but I've loved my wogs walk/jog. I was just curious as to how hard/easy it is with te. My bmx was 12/12 and I can barely do 2 miles. But I am thankful to get back to it.

Kori

goldlining

Welcome klynnz. I hope some of the TE recon people can answer your question shortly.

firstcall

Its been nearly a month since I've been for a run.  Nothing like two surgeries in two weeks to derail you.  I still have a drain in from my last surgery, so I cant run yet, but I think I may try the bike.  

CLC

Adrian...I used the bike at pt to keep my cardio up.  It was a really big relief to me psychologically to know I was doing SOMETHING.  And...even though I am just a wee bit of a runner (7 miles is as far as I have ever run and I had started running only about a year ago as I have always been a swimmer), I got back to my presurgery run level within a few weeks after starting up again.

I will be thinking of you as you prep for that Boston Marathon!! 

Everyone...  I don't think of myself as a real runner, everyone, or I would take the mantle of starting a new running thread...  I just don't feel worthy to the task of attaching my name to such a prestigious thread!!!  Any other takers?

goldlining

I wish we could just take "2011" off the title of the thread and stay here.... Or just leave it and stay here. There are other threads with expired names (e.g., "NOLA in September") so it's not like we'd be outlaws :-) 

orangemat

goldlining, I'm with you. Can the originator of the thread (lewing) change the title? I'm happy to stay here as well, even though I'm not posting here all that much these days. I'll probably return a bit after my revision surgery in March though.

klynnz

I ran 3.10 miles today. Did it on thursday too. I'm proud of myself and am going to force myself to sign up for some 5k charity runs. That's a big deal for me. I hate running in front of people. I always feel like the real runners are looking at me thinking look at that fat girl trying to run. But hey, I did a bmx I can surely run in a crowd..

CLC

klynnz...I have been wanting to actually enter a race, too, but have not brought myself to do it...I am intimidated by crowds in general...where will I sign up, will I make any faux pas to annoy the veterans...you know, general social anxiety...but, this very morning, I decided I would try running in the 5k in a town I know well, a small race without prestige...  The race is not until May...so I will have plenty of time to talk myself out of it...lol...Seriously, I am going to force myself, too...:)

klynnz

I love the idea of doing a small town 5k instead! I never would have thought of it. Thanks so much!!

goldlining

klynnz my strategy is to run in a tutu! There aren't that many people behind me, I figure, but those that are don't need to be looking at my butt! I have a couple of them and it makes me feel festive.

Of course like many of us here, I loooove the runDisney events. They provide really good instructions so there is no worry about doing it wrong and they provide outstanding support. If you want to see an example, check the race program online for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend (Half, 5K, and kids races) next Sunday. The only pressure is the early starting time.

I registered for the Tink Half back when I thought my mastectomy and reconstruction (DIEP) would be September, and it turned out to be December. Just 5 weeks ago. So I plan to walk but I wouldn't miss it. The medals are gorgeous. I checked the weather and saw that compared to the September Disneyland Half, it will be cooler, so I decided I will make a sleeveless windbreaker long enough to cover my butt and resemble Tinker Bell's dress. The outer fabric is leaf green sparkle organza. Picked up the fabric and notions today. I also bought a long sleeve compression top because my chiropractor suggested it would be helpful while I still have limited abdominal strength. I also bought some compression capris (CW-X) for no reason other than I always wanted some. I wore them at the Y on the treadmill today and holy cow! They feel fantastic. My legs feel like I spent all afternoon at the spa! I wish I had got some ages ago!

I walked on the treadmill 8.7 km in about 1:23. Most of it was at a 15 min/mi pace but at the 1 hour point, I ran at 13:30/mi for 3 minutes. I am deconditioned so that was plenty but it didn't hurt and my heart rate was great, so I think I can start easing back into it, maybe trot here and there during the Half.

So that was my last training outing before the 21.1 km next weekend and I am into the taper and carb-load week. I have managed to learn that I am in Corral B, so I get not only 3:30 to finish the 21.1 km, but I also get the few extra minutes between the time I start and the time Corral E starts. I hope I don't need it but it's reassuring to have the insurance. 

klynnz

Goldlining, thanks for sharing the tutu trick. It made me laugh.

groovygirls

My niece and I do the disney marathon weekend every year and we are so going to be wearing tutus next January!

kks_rd

I have to agree with the small race thing.  My first race had maybe 100 people?  It was still a crowd but thinned out quickly.  The "serious" runners weren't paying ANY attention and most people were there just for the cause.  And there were people there for the cause who were MUCH slower than I was.

klynnz

You guys are great! I have an appt with my ps tomorrow to figure out when recon surgery is. If It's after March 18 I'm signing up for the shamrock run!!